Artist: DJ Snake
Song: “Middle” (feat. Bipolar Sunshine) (4B Remix)
Why You Want to Listen: The track “Turn Down for What” (with rapper Lil John) brought DJ Snake into the international limelight in 2013. Okay, he also had some serious notoriety before that as a producer on Lady GaGa’s Born This Way. Since then, the French DJ has worked with AlunaGeorge, Major Lazer and Dillon Francis. Now, New York DJ 4B remixes “Middle,” taking out a prominent part of the original. And if that part (you know which one I mean), bothers you, the remix might appeal more to you. I love them both.
Review & Photos: George Clinton & Parliament-Funkadelic @ the Neptune
George Clinton & Parliament-Funkadelic @ the Neptune, 4/12/16
Show Review & Photos by John Rudolph
George Clinton & Parliament-Funkadelic
George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic (P-Funk to the initiated) ROCKED a packed house at the Neptune. Many times reviewers and photographers use “rocked” as a simple go-to word to describe a band, but in this case P-Funk ROCKED DA HOUSE. When the local Seattle PD starts dancing alongside the fans, you know something amazing is happening, and isn’t that what the music is all about?
The band sauntered onto the stage one member at a time with the ease of a group that’s been around for more than 40 years. Clinton has aged with the grace of a fine wine. He looked sharp and well-put-together like the professional he is. Before we knew it we were all drunk on the funk, and Drunk on the Funk best describes this party. The longtime and newer fans all partied to P-Funk’s older songs that we grew up loving, such as “Flashlight” and “One Nation Under a Groove.”
What about the wild cloths P-Funk wore in the 70’s? Sadly, no diaper this time around. “Sir Nose” represented the ’70s with his fur hat, coat, vest, and pants. He contorted himself into positions that I can only describe painful. He was amazing and so funny! What a personality.
George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic put on a fantastic show that was as much a psychedelic experience as a concert . . . and they left us, drunk on funk.
George Clinton & Parliament-Funkadelic
Photos: Joanna Newsom @ the Paramount Theatre
Theatrical singer-songwriter Joanna Newsom headlined at the Paramount in support of her latest LP, Divers. She was backed by a six-member “mini orchestra” that included sister Emily and brother Pete. Newsom herself alternated between the harp and grand piano. Seattle-based Robin Pecknold, of Fleet Foxes fame, opened.
Joanna Newsom
Robin Pecknold
Photos: Lissie @ Columbia City Theater
I first saw Lissie 5+ years ago and have been a fan ever since. She and her band recently played at the Columbia City Theater, one of the first stops on her North American tour, in support of her latest album, My Wild West. Coincidently I saw Lissie a few weeks ago at SXSW in Austin and was happy to see her again in Seattle. Her CCT show included an on-stage proposal with two audience members in the middle of the set – and she said, “Yes!” Lissie grew up in Illinois and moved to California for a few years. She’s now back in the Midwest on a 10-acre farm in Iowa and hopes to become a beekeeper someday.
Lissie
Photos: Troye Sivan & Allie X @ Showbox SoDo
Troye Sivan, an Australian singer-songwriter (and actor!), headlined Showbox SoDo in February. The 2016 winner of GLAAD’s Outstanding Music Award, Sivan combined his talent with several producers, XXYYXX and Jack Antonoff among them, on his debut album Blue Neighborhood. In 2014, Time rated the then nineteen-year-old Sivan one of the most influential teens of 2014. As an opener, Sivan brought with him Canadian singer-songwriter Allie X, who, in addition to writing her own material, co-wrote over half the tracks on Sivan’s Blue Neighborhood. Thank you, Troye Sivan, for making Seattle one of your Blue Neighborhood Tour dates!
All photos by Casey Brevig: